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ROUGH sleepers, or those at risk of rough sleeping will be supported by £3.2 million of initial emergency funding if they need to self-isolate to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The funding will be available to all local authorities in England and will reimburse them for the cost of providing accommodation and services to those sleeping on the streets to...

An ELECTRICITY power station company was was fined £200,000 after three contractors were injured by a sudden release of water and sludge at a Cheshire power station. Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard that, on 18 January 2018, three workers contracted by Keadby Generation Limited, were removing a recirculation pump for maintenance in the Flue Gas Desulphurisation area of Fiddlers Ferry Power...

NEW legislation that gives councils bold new powers to reshape bus services across Wales was introduced introduced to the Welsh Government on 16 March. The new toolkit proposed in the Bus Services (Wales) Bill includes new powers for councils to franchise bus services on routes and paves the way for local authorities to run their own bus companies. Speaking ahead of...

LOCAL authorities across England have been granted more than £2.2 million in government funding to deliver innovative projects to improve air quality. The money, from the government’s Air Quality Grant, supports schemes which help councils develop and implement measures to benefit schools, businesses and residents, reducing the impact on people’s health and creating cleaner and healthier environments. Environment Minister Rebecca Pow commented...

SEVEN leading partners have come together to help protect wildlife by creating the UK’s first ever ‘super’ National Nature Reserve on the Purbeck Heaths in Dorset. The new Purbeck Heaths National Nature Reserve ‘knits’ together 11 types of priority habitat to enable wildlife to move more easily across the landscape. This will give rare and varied wildlife, including the sand lizard, the...

INVOLVING children more in the aftermath of severe flood events could prove key to reducing fear of future disasters, according to new research. Besides the material damages caused by the recent flooding, the psychological impact on those affected could linger long beyond that. Florence Halstead, a PhD researcher at the University of Hull, commented on her findings: “A lot of research...

PLASTIC straws, cutlery and polystyrene food and drink containers are to be banned in Wales as part of wider measures to make Wales 'the world’s top recycling nation', Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government has confirmed. To mark Global Recycling Day, the Welsh Government’s plans are designed to restrict single-use, hard to recycle and commonly littered plastics, as part...

NEW emergency measures with the energy industry have been agreed by the government to protect the domestic energy supply of those most in need during the disruption caused by COVID-19. From today customers with pre-payment meters who may not be able to add credit can speak to their supplier about options to keep them supplied. This will benefit over 4 million...

SENSOR technology used in conjunction with satellites is being used to enhance monitoring of a North East reservoir dam, following a successful pilot project. Northumbrian Water hosted the innovative pilot for Amey Consulting, at Burnhope Reservoir in Weardale, County Durham, to explore how real-time measuring of dam movements could benefit the water industry and other operators. Kevin Miller, Northumbrian Water's Reservoir...

RESEARCH at Teesside University is helping one of the world’s prominent producers of meat substitutes to drive the sustainability and quality of its protein. The University has begun a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Quorn Foods, to test different methods of making mycoprotein, the main ingredient in all Quorn products, that would lead to an even more sustainable production methodology and...